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Liquefied Capsules Coated with Multilayered Polyelectrolyte Films for Cell Immobilization
Author(s) -
Costa Nazua L.,
Sher Praveen,
Mano João F.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
advanced engineering materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.938
H-Index - 114
eISSN - 1527-2648
pISSN - 1438-1656
DOI - 10.1002/adem.201080138
Subject(s) - materials science , coating , polyelectrolyte , chitosan , polymer , cell encapsulation , tissue engineering , chemical engineering , gelatin , layer (electronics) , layer by layer , nanotechnology , biomedical engineering , polymer chemistry , composite material , chemistry , self healing hydrogels , organic chemistry , medicine , engineering
Natural‐derived polymers are used to coat liquid‐core capsules layer by layer to encapsulate cells. Human osteoblast‐like cells (SaOs‐2) are encapsulated in such spherical devices using a three‐step methodology: i) ionotropic gelation to produce alginate beads encapsulating the cells; ii) layer‐by‐layer coating using water‐soluble chitosan and alginate; and iii) core liquefaction. Cells remain viable for 3 d after the encapsulation procedure, suggesting that the developed capsules possess a semipermeable, nanostructured coating. All of the capsules exhibit a spherical shape, smooth surface and liquid‐core characteristics. All of the processes are conducted under mild conditions and physiological pH. We consider that the methodology employed in the development of the capsules obtained from natural‐based biomaterials has potential to find applicability in the development of scaffolds or cell carriers in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.